She was looking forward to a reunion with her favorite G-boy, but the new people she met were just as special.
Animate
Japan’s biggest anime specialty shop chain warns that not following this advice could turn Christmas into a day of tears.
Specialty shop Animate stays true to its roots as it gets ready to celebrate a big milestone with a big store.
SoraNews24’s otaku reporter heads to one of Tokyo’s biggest anime fan neighborhoods and gets a massive return on his fukubukuro investment.
The case cover hangs from the neck which frees up your hands to trade, display, or easily stow your favorite character goods.
Despite kicking off the new year with a plethora of anime merch, something felt amiss for our Japanese-language reporter’s fukubukuro experience.
Disgruntled 34-year-old woman says she wished the staff had died and Kyoto Animation workers lived.
New 7-Eleven ATMs installed at select Animate locations will feature luscious anime pinup art and compelling lines from top-rate voice actors.
There might be a rare fault in the design, but we have a feeling some fans won’t be exchanging the faulty item as requested.
To celebrate its 20th anniversary this year, the Cardcaptor Sakura franchise is getting a new manga, including a bunch of other tie-in goodies and events this year you don’t want to miss!
With 60 items for just 1,000 yen (US$8.35), Animate’s lucky bag might just be the luckiest of all.
Anime series Yowamushi Pedal has set off on its second season, titled Yowamushi Pedal Grande Road, and its creators have shifted gears with new goods and collaborations to up the game.
Starting with a collaboration with karaoke chain Karaoke no Tetsujin (AKA Kara-Tetsu), the series’ makers also have plans to release men’s boxer shorts, however ironically, at an event targeted for girls. Whether they expect their fangirls to wear men’s undies themselves or are hoping the girls will buy them for their boyfriends, we haven’t got a clue, but we have all the details about this peculiar collaboration after break!
You’ve already been introduced to Yuya Uchida, the attractive worker at the Osaka Nipponbashi branch of Animate, a chain of anime and manga stores in Japan. He has inspired countless Internet debates regarding his status as both an otaku and a hottie, prompting one user to comment, “Hot guys should be banned from watching anime.” We knew we had to go out to Osaka to find this mythical hotaku™ and see for ourselves if he really is as irresistible as the Internet makes him out to be.
Meet Yuya Uchida, part-time employee at Animate, a Japanese chain of large-scale stores that carry a full range of anime and manga-related merchandise. Lately, Yuya has been getting a lot of attention from the Internet and other media for his surprisingly good looks! This anime-loving ikemen (hot guy) is breaking the otaku mold and capturing the hearts of women across the nation. Can a guy be allowed to keep his nerd cred when he happens to be such a looker?




















Rakuten randomly offers 58 New Year’s osechi feasts in Japan, but did we get a star or a dud?
Top Japanese cosplayer Enako returns to Comiket after 6 years, creates mayhem with admirers
Private booths are coming to Japan’s Shinkansen bullet trains even sooner than we’d thought【Video】
New Japanese menstrual product seeks to help women spot unidentified iron deficiencies
Japanese beef bowl chain Sukiya’s 2026 Smile Box lucky bag basically pays for itself
Tokyo fish market breaks New Year auction record as single fish sells for over 5 million yen【Vid】
Majority of Japanese mayors say foreign residents are essential but most see good and bad effects
Should you dip your cake in sake? One Japanese brewer says no, but actually yes【 Taste test】
7 great places to see Mt. Fuji from without having to climb it
7-Eleven Japan starts new temporary luggage storage service in over 300 branches
Starbucks Japan ready to get Year of the Horse started with adorable drinkware and plushies【Pics】
Hayao Miyazaki says Happy New Year to Studio Ghibli fans with new art for Year of the Horse
We found possibly the quietest Japanese-style hotel in Tokyo’s bustling Shinjuku district
Cup Noodle tries an authentic Jiro-style ramen, but something’s not quite right
The best Starbucks Japan Frappuccinos we want to drink again in 2026
We revisited Sweets Paradise after a decade to see if Japan’s dessert buffet still delivers
That time Seiji called JASRAC to ask why he didn’t get paid royalties for his song being on TV
Japan’s oldest largetooth sawfish in captivity back on display in Mie Prefecture
Pizza Hut Japan’s hot lucky bags are perfect for a New Year’s pizza party
Disillusionment at Tsukiji’s tourist-target prices led us to a great ramen restaurant in Tokyo
Starbucks teams up with 166-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Horse decorations【Photos】
Tokyo considering law requiring more trash cans following litter increase in heavily touristed area
Tokyo’s Tsukiji sushi neighborhood asks tour groups to stay away for the rest of the month
Tokyo event lets you travel back in time, for free, to celebrate 100 years since Showa era start
Japan may add Japanese language proficiency, lifestyle classes to permanent foreign resident requirements
Sanrio theme park in Japan announces plans to expand into a Sanrio resort
Stamina-destroying “Paralysis Noodles” are Tokyo’s newest over-the-top ramen innovation
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Japan’s deadliest food claims more victims, but why do people keep eating it for New Year’s?
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
Updated cherry blossom forecast shows extra-long sakura season for Japan this year
Tokyo fish market breaks New Year auction record as single fish sells for over 5 million yen【Vid】
Majority of Japanese mayors say foreign residents are essential but most see good and bad effects
Should you dip your cake in sake? One Japanese brewer says no, but actually yes【 Taste test】
7 great places to see Mt. Fuji from without having to climb it
7-Eleven Japan starts new temporary luggage storage service in over 300 branches
Tokyo event lets you travel back in time, for free, to celebrate 100 years since Showa era start
Starbucks celebrates Halloween with new Frappuccino, tea and drinkware in Japan
Dress like your favourite Lupin III character with suits and kimono designed by Japanese tailors
The Purple Lucky Bag from Village Vanguard is an extra-large waste of money
New intentionally ugly anime sweaters from Japan will keep you warm and un-cool this winter【Pics】
We found possibly the quietest Japanese-style hotel in Tokyo’s bustling Shinjuku district
7-Eleven Japan’s ramen-cooking robot whipped us up a bowl of noodles【Taste test】
Super-cheap yakiniku restaurant sells meat by the mouthful to give you exactly what you want
New Roaring Totoro plushies from Studio Ghibli make us view the character in a new light